The South African documentary Mother City was honoured with a prestigious President Thomas Sankara Award last week at the 2025 edition of FESPACO in Burkina Faso, Africa’s largest and most influential film festival.

Mother City is a powerful and passionate film about the struggle for affordable housing in Cape Town. The President Thomas Sankara Award recognises films that embody the ideals of Pan-Africanism, resistance, and social justice—values that are at the heart of the film and the activists whose stories it tells.

FESPACO showcases over 200 films from across Africa and the African diaspora, bringing together the continent’s most visionary filmmakers. “To be recognized with this award in such a dynamic and historic space is an immense honour,” says Mother City producer Kethiwe Ngcobo. “The legacy of Thomas Sankara’s commitment to justice and resistance resonates deeply with the themes of Mother City, making this recognition particularly meaningful.”

Mother City director Miki Redelinghuys reflects on her experience at the festival: “I have always wanted to attend FESPACO, but being there exceeded my expectations. The vibrancy, warmth, and deep love and passion for cinema that I experienced in Burkina Faso have inspired me. It was a privilege to be among some of the legends of African cinema. To be awarded the President Thomas Sankara award was the best I could have imagined for our film. This award is a homage to the activists featured in Mother City, their work and the pursuit of a more equal and just society.”

Beyond the awards, the Mother City team was part of key conversations at FESPACO. They participated in the Doc Days session hosted by DocA and Real Reel Impact (RRI), both of which have provided vital impact support to the Mother City impact campaign.

"It's meaningful to receive support from organisations from the continent and build networks of mutual support,” stated Redelinghuys. The festival also saw strong participation from South African documentary filmmakers, with key initiatives such as the Lab of Labs by the Durban FilmMart (DFM), Climate Story Lab, Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, and DocA—many of which have been close allies in the journey of Mother City.

“As we continue with our festival run and impact screenings, this award acknowledges the remarkable women and men who are bravely imagining a city and country where land justice is prioritised by our government. 'We’re not asking for pity... Implement your policies!'," says Mother City director Pearlie Joubert.

Local audiences will be able to catch Mother City at the Joburg Film Festival (11 to 15 March). The screening is on Saturday, 15 March, at 1 pm SAST, at the NuMetro 3, Hyde Park.

To book, go to Webtickets.

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